39 h. ago Hong Kong authorities trying to disrupt independent press with ‘strange’ tax audits

Inland revenue targets eight outlets, union, 20 journalists and their families with supposed ‘random’ checksHong Kong authorities have targeted journalists and media outlets with what are supposed to be “random” tax audits, in a move the industry union says adds pressure to waning press freedoms.The head of the Hong Kong Journalists Association, Selina Cheng, detailed what she said were “strange” and “unreasonable” accusations by Hong Kong’s inland revenue department. Requests or audits were made against the association, at least eight independent media outlets, and at least 20 journalists and their family members, including Cheng and her parents, she said at a press conference on Wednesday. Continue reading...

Culture

57 h. ago Former prisoners and hostages urge Starmer to secure release of Jimmy Lai

Call for UK PM to act urgently over pro-democracy campaigner who has spent 1,602 days in solitary confinementFormer prisoners and hostages wrongly held abroad have urged the UK prime minister to urgently secure the release of the pro-democracy campaigner Jimmy Lai before he dies in a Hong Kong jail.The 77-year-old media mogul, who is a British citizen, has been held in solitary confinement for 1,602 days and his family fears he might not survive another summer in Hong Kong, where temperatures can reach 40C (104F). Continue reading...

Events

59 h. ago Some Hong Kong reporters and news outlets are targeted by unwarranted tax audits, media group says

A media group in Hong Kong says tax authorities have targeted at least 20 people, including journalists, current or former heads of media organizations and their families, with audits without sufficient evidence

Events

2 d. ago Watch London Metal Exchange CEO on Setting Up Hong Kong Warehouses

Watch London Metal Exchange CEO on Setting Up Hong Kong Warehouses  Bloomberg.com

Events

3 d. ago New Covid variant fears as UK deaths double in a week and cases surge around world

Health authorities in Asia are monitoring reports of rising Covid-19 cases in Singapore and Hong Kong, with fresh concerns in India and a sharp rise in the number of UK deaths

Events

3 d. ago Chinese battery maker CATL surges 16% in biggest listing of 2025

Strong demand for secondary offering in Hong Kong expected to lift amount raised to $5.3bn

Politics

3 d. ago China’s battery leader CATL surges on debut after biggest listing of 2025

Strong demand for secondary offering in Hong Kong expected to lift amount raised to $5.3bn

Politics

3 d. ago Shares in China's CATL, world's biggest EV battery maker, surge in Hong Kong after $4.6 billion IPO

Hong Kong-trade shares in CATL, the world’s largest maker of batteries for electric vehicles, have jumped after the company raised around $4.6 billion in the biggest initial public offering globally this year

Economics

4 d. ago Asian shares slide and US futures and dollar drop after Wall Street's winning week

Asian shares are lower after Moody's Ratings downgraded the sovereign credit rating for the United States

Politics

1 week ago Hong Kong rushes to tighten domestic version of national security law

City spokesperson says law enacted ‘against increasingly turbulent global geopolitical landscape’

Events

1 week ago World’s largest EV battery maker CATL to raise at least $4bn

Chinese company’s Hong Kong offering set to be biggest listing globally this year

Politics

1 week ago Asian shares advance as details awaited on progress in China

Asian shares are higher after two days of trade talks between China and the U_S_ made what the U_S_ side said was “substantial progress.”

Politics

1 week ago ‘I hope this helps to capture a part of Hong Kong’s history’: Tong Ho Chung Howard’s best phone picture

The street photographer celebrates the vibrancy of the country’s traditional corner houseTong Ho Chung Howard took this image on an afternoon of urban and street photography in the Mong Kok district of Hong Kong. He feels passionately about the history of the region where he was born and bred, and had hoped to capture what he regards as one of its most distinctive types of historical building – the corner house.“Built on the intersection of two roads, they often contain a mixture of homes and shops,” Howard says. This corner house lies at the junction of Tung Choi Street and Shantung Street. “They’re one type of tong lau, which translates to ‘Chinese building’, first built in the 19th century. But in the urban renewal projects implemented here in recent years, such buildings are gradually being replaced by modern high-rises. It’s leaving Hong Kong without elements that would allow people to understand its authentic characteristics and history.” Continue reading...

Events

2 w. ago US trade deal a ‘political win’ but will do little for UK growth, say experts

Sir Keir Starmer said the trade agreement struck on Thursday is a ‘historic’ deal, but economists played down the benefits for the economy at large.

Politics

2 w. ago Tory extinction ‘can’t be ruled out’, says Jeremy Hunt – UK politics live

Former chancellor says he does not expect the Conservatives to die out as a party but he says it is a possibilityKeir Starmer starts by saying rising tensions between India and Pakistan will be of serious concern for many across Britain. The government is enouraging de-escalation, he says.He says tomorrow the nation will fall silent to commemorate VE Day. The armed forces protect our freedom, he says. Continue reading...

Politics

2 w. ago Auction of gems linked to Buddha postponed after India legal threat

Ministry of culture tells Sotheby’s it would be ‘participating in continued colonial exploitation’ if sale of gems goes aheadThe Indian government is seeking to repatriate ancient gem relics linked to the Buddha’s remains after halting their sale at an auction in Hong Kong.Sotheby’s postponed the sale of the Piprahwa gems, due on Wednesday, after the ministry of culture threatened to take legal action against the auction house in Indian and Hong Kong courts and through international bodies “for violations of cultural heritage laws”. Continue reading...

Events

2 w. ago Sotheby’s Hong Kong postpones auction of Buddha jewels after India threatens legal action

Auction of sacred Buddha relics paused to allow discussion between parties contesting ownership

Events

2 w. ago Piprahwa gems auction on hold at Sotheby’s after India legal threat

Auctioning of Piprahwa gems had been due to take place in Hong Kong but Indian government proclaimed it offensive to Buddhists and illegalAuction house Sotheby’s has postponed the auction of a collection of hundreds of jewels linked to Buddha’s remains after India’s government threatened legal action and demanded the jewels be returned.The sale in Hong Kong of the collection, known as the “Piprahwa Gems of the Historical Buddha Mauryan Empire, Ashokan Era, circa 240-200 BCE”, has drawn criticism from Buddhist academics and monastic leaders. Continue reading...

Events

2 w. ago Hong Kong’s Bun festival and Seoul martial arts: photos of the day – Tuesday

The Guardian’s picture editors select photographs from around the world Continue reading...

Culture

2 w. ago India demands halt to Hong Kong auction of sacred Buddha relics

Government urges return of items excavated in 1898, calling their sale a violation of global heritage laws

Politics